1850 American Gold Baron

Chapter 211 Genius Inventor

The third place Liang Yao Invention Award is intended to be awarded to Ericsson and Claver.

Erickson and Claver own the most patented propeller technologies and are top experts in propellers.

Although the paddle steamers at this time were advanced, in the 19th century, when shipbuilding technology was advancing rapidly, paddle steamers were ultimately just a flash in the pan.

The bulky paddle wheel not only takes up a lot of space, but also affects the maneuverability of the ship and will soon be eliminated. Propeller-driven hidden wheel ships are the future.

Liang Yao's subsequent shipbuilding focus will also be on hidden ships, and he will hire Ericson and Claver as experts from California shipyards.

The second place, Liang Yao, is intended to be awarded to the California Railroad Company's engineering team headed by Ward.

Under his guidance, these outstanding engineers invented the Pioneer locomotive and the matching railway tracks that Americans are proud of. Ward's team of engineers is worthy of this honor and award.

The first place, Liang Yao, is intended to be awarded to Walter.

As for what Walter should invent to award him, it was hard for Liang Yao for a while.

Because this guy has so many inventions, it doesn’t matter if there are too many. In Liang Yao’s opinion, each of his inventions is very meaningful and has great commercial value.

For example: spinning machine, knife sharpening machine, nail making machine, writing desk lamp, self-sealing ink bottle, safety pin, twisting machine, locking single needle sewing machine, small icebreaker, street sweeper, universal wheel, spherical coal stove, etc.

, even the nib of the pen in Liang Yao’s pocket uses Walter’s patented technology for improved pen nibs.

Liang Yao specially went to the Patent Office to check out Walter's patented technologies filed with the Patent Office. There are more than 200 patented technologies registered in the Patent Office.

In addition to patented technologies in the civilian field, Walter also has patented technologies in the military field, such as lever-action rifles and lever-action revolvers, allowing relatively reliable repeating firearms to enter the stage of history.

Such a genius is simply a big treasure, and there is no way Liang Yao would let him go.

It's a pity that although Walter is an inventive genius, he holds hundreds of patents.

But he is a very pure inventor, good at inventing and creating, but bad at realizing his inventions.

This great genius inventor still lives a relatively poor life in New York.

Little did he know that as long as any of his patents were successfully realized, he would be able to achieve financial freedom and easily become a millionaire or even a multi-millionaire.

For example, a company that has patented the technology of spherical coal stoves can make millions of dollars in profits every year from the spherical coal stoves sold in New York.

William Grace bought out Walter's patent for the safety paper clip in 1849 for $400.

Now only 22 years old, Grice has made more than $2 million from safety paper clips and established Grace Chemical Company. This chemical company is still an industry giant in the 21st century.

Don't underestimate the small paper clip. Before the invention of the zipper, both Americans and Europeans used pins to close pockets and secure accessories on clothes. They are indispensable necessities in life.

In addition, paper clips can also be used to secure baby's clothes and diapers.

Since babies grow very quickly, parents often sew and buy oversized clothes for their babies in order to save money, and use paper clips to fix the loose parts of the clothes, so that a large amount of money can be spent on sewing and buying clothes.

Ironically, Liang Yao bought all of Walter's patented technology and drawings from the patent office for only $68,550.

More than sixty thousand US dollars is undoubtedly a huge amount of money, but it is too cheap for this genius inventor's invention.

After much deliberation, Liang Yao finally decided to award Walter the first place Liang Yao Award in the name of the inventor of the lock-type single-needle sewing machine and the main improver of sewing machines.

In the Sewing Machine War of 1850, it was not Walter, who made the greatest contribution to the improvement of sewing machines, who gained fame, but two businessmen, Elias Howe and Isaac Singer.

Elias Howe and Isaac Singer not only profited from it, but also competed for the honorary title of "the main inventor of the sewing machine".

At this time, Walter was deeply involved in a lawsuit with Elias Howe and Isaac Singer over the patented sewing machine technology.

Liang Yao publicly awarded the first prize of this award to Walter, not only to provide material support to Walter, but also to give Walter a public platform.

Liang Yao was led by Coney to Walter's residence on Washington Street.

"This is where Walter lives."

After seeing the house number clearly, Kony pointed to the four-story sloping roof tile house in front of him and said.

Kony was about to knock on the door, but Liang Yao signaled Kony to step aside first, and he personally stepped forward and knocked on Walter's door.

The person who opened the door to Liang Yao was a middle-aged woman holding a child in her arms. Behind the middle-aged woman were two children of three or four years old, grabbing the hem of her skirt and playing with each other.

Seeing that Liang Yao was well-dressed and seemed to be a very respectable person, the middle-aged woman asked politely.

"May I ask who is calling?"

While being polite, the middle-aged woman looked at Liang Yao with a hint of caution, worried that Liang Yao was here to collect debts.

"I am Liang Yao, is this Mr. Walter's home?" Liang Yao asked with a smile.

"Ah? You are Mr. Liang, come in quickly, come in quickly, this is our home, I am Walter's wife."

Mrs. Walter's attitude towards Liang Yao was very enthusiastic, and Liang Yao recently purchased all of Walter's patents from the patent office.

As a result, Walter received a very considerable patent fee and his living conditions were greatly improved.

At least Walter could now afford a draftsman specifically to draw pictures for him.

If you want to apply for a patent and file it with the Patent Office, you need a detailed patent drawing and description.

Walter's own knowledge level was that he had not graduated from elementary school, and his drawing and writing abilities were limited. He needed to hire a draftsman to help him draw and write the patent specification, which was a huge expense.

Since arriving in New York, Walter has often been unable to pay the draftsman and has been chased by the draftsman for debts.

Of course, this is only part of the cost of applying for a patent. In addition to the draftsman's remuneration, Walter also needs to pay the patent office application fees, registration fees, filing fees and other miscellaneous fees.

Because the patent office of the federal government now supports hundreds of people, and the federal government’s allocation to the patent office is limited, the patent office must find a way to support itself.

By the way, the Patent Office and Trademark Office in the mid-19th century were not in New York, but in Pennsylvania next door. If Walter wanted to apply for a patent, he had to make a trip to Pennsylvania, and the round trip expenses were also a considerable expense.

Liang Yao walked into Walter's home. Walter's home was not small, but considering that Walter had twelve children and as many grandchildren as his children, Walter's home seemed quite crowded.

Liang Yao finally understood why Walter had so many patented technologies but still lived in such poverty and poverty.

Love is like raising a bunch of four-legged gold-eating beasts in New York. There are no maternity subsidies in America in this era.

You can imagine the pressure that ordinary people face raising more than two dozen children and grandchildren in one of the most expensive cities in the United States.

"Hello Mr. Liang, I heard that you bought all my patents. Thank you very much."

A tall middle-aged man about 195 centimeters tall with scarred hands put down his work and stretched out his calloused hands to Liang Yao.

"Hello, Mr. Walter."

Liang Yao shook Walter's rough hand.

Walter's rugged image is more likely to be associated with the image of a farmer than an inventor.

In fact, Walter did come from a poor farmer, and a life of poverty accompanied Walter throughout his life.

"I have ridden on the Pioneer you invented and it was very comfortable. It's a pity that I have no money. Otherwise, I would have spent 5 dollars to buy a first-class ticket to experience it." Walter said with regret.

"The Pioneer and those carriages are very remarkable inventions, and the ore washing tank you invented is also a very simple and practical invention."

Liang Yao also has several technologies in the patent office, but Liang Yao is more famous than Walter in the invention world. This is not because Liang Yao has many inventions in the invention world.

It's because Liang Yao has the bonus of being the richest man in the United States and the California State Speaker.

Of course, it is an indisputable fact that Liang Yao is one of the very few politicians who has his own patented technology.

"I designed those carriages, and I tinkered with the ore washing tank. As for the Pioneer locomotive, I didn't invent it. I just made some trivial suggestions to my team of engineers."

Liang Yao said very calmly.

"You are such a humble person. You bought all my patented technologies, and I received US$27,400. In the days to come, I finally don't have to worry about my livelihood anymore and can concentrate on my inventions."

Walter said very happily.

"27,400 US dollars?" Liang Yao was very surprised after hearing this number.

"I spent US$68,550 to buy your patent. How little did you get?"

“Damn the Patent Office!”

Walter also felt very angry after hearing the figure of more than 60,000 US dollars.

"It's okay not to mention the money. I'm here to tell you that you are the winner of the first Liang Yao Invention Award. I will announce the news soon." Liang Yao brought good news to Walter.

"I also heard the news that you established this award. This is good news for the invention world. On behalf of my colleagues in the invention world, I thank you!" Walter said excitedly, but he quickly added.

"Mr. Liang, can I win next year's Liang Yao Invention Award?"

"Why?"

Liang Yao was very confused by Walter's strange request and didn't understand what kind of medicine Walter was selling in his gourd.

"According to what I read in the newspaper, the prize money for the winner of the Liang Yao Award is the income of the Liang Yao Award Foundation for that year, and more than half a year has passed this year, and the prize money is definitely not as big as the winners of the second session." Walter was very

Said honestly.

(End of chapter)